Well Tutored to cheer Moore

Today's €190,000 Paddy Power Chase is a rare and glaring omission from Arthur Moore's record of big handicap success in Ireland but conditions might just be suitable for Well Tutored to plug that gap in the day two Leopardstown centrepiece.

In a long and distinguished career as a jockey and trainer, Moore has picked up almost every valuable handicap pot worth winning, including a record six wins in what is now the hugely valuable Pierse Hurdle. Moore has even landed our most important handicap chase, the Irish Grand National, both as a trainer (Feathered Gale) and a jockey (King's Sprite).

However, it is the last decade in which the Paddy Power has been run that Moore has endured some frustrating near misses with three runner-up placings and a fourth for Well Tutored himself last year.

Well Tutored is back for another crack at the race and he presents punters with a teaser in that he relishes soft ground but Moore believes that puts pressure on his stamina at the three-mile trip. "He would prefer soft ground and he is possibly better over shorter than three miles. But he was fourth last year and he must have a sporting chance," the trainer said.

The unseasonal conditions of this Christmas festival mean there shouldn't be as much of an emphasis on stamina as normal and Well Tutored's record indicates he has a versatility with ground, and indeed distance, that will be a big plus today.

For a horse that has also been placed in a Troytown, and run creditably in an Irish National, the three miles shouldn't be too much of an issue while the ground conditions shouldn't trouble him either.

A comeback run at Fairyhouse behind Vintage Treasure was perfectly satisfactory and Moore is sure to have Well Tutored tuned to perfection for this important pot.

Not surprisingly with a maximum field of 30 in such a competitive event, a lot will depend on luck in running, as well as keeping tabs on a number of potentially very dangerous opponents.

Benefit Night has been at or near the top of the ante-post betting for a long time and he should strip sharper for his comeback third to Royal County Star in the Troytown.

He has 10 lengths to make up on Gazza's Girl on that running but is 7lb better in and the mare may not relish the ground.

JP McManus has an enviable Paddy Power record with wins for Time For A Run (1997), World Wide Web (2003) and Keepatem (2004.)

Today the champion owner has three runners including the sole-British based hope, Firth Of Forth, who comes here on the back of a second in a novice chase at Uttoxeter, and is very much a dark horse in terms of the handicap.

O'Muircheartaigh has been raised 7lb for winning at Punchestown on his last start and it will be interesting how this classy sort takes to the hustle and bustle of a 30-runner field, a comment that also applies to Merdeka who represents last year's winning trainer, Tom Taaffe.

For many years, Taaffe combined with his former boss, Moore, to be major players on the big handicap days around Leopardstown.

This time, it's Moore's nephew, the Champion Hurdle and French Gold Cup-winning rider, Philip Carberry, who will be on board.

But the family team can strike it lucky in the big Christmas lottery with Well Tutored.